Lock for compressor plates



Dec. 30, 1952 R. R. UHRMACHER ErAL 2,623,528

LOOK FOR COMPRESSOR PLATES Filed Feb. 24, 1947 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 RALPH .R L'HRMACHER EBENE/ 00 CA/RELL/ Dec. 30, 1952 R. R. UHRMACHER r- TAL 2,623,528

LOOK FOR COMPRESSOR PLATES Filed Feb. 24, 1947V 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN VEN TORS.

5er/ph RUHRMACHER EREMELDO CA/RELL/ Wvg@ Patented Dec. .'30,` 1952 UNITED :STATES PATENT GFFIC i 2,623,528 l LOCK FOR CGMPRESSGR PLATES f einen it. Urrea-cha and faaatjpiaiicti; cago; Ill., assignors to Wilson-Jones Company, Chicago', Ill., a corporation of Massachusettsw application reti-early ai, 19er; serial No. '130,522

This inve'rifion relata-,t9 leek.' ferpemrrelssor plates, lparticularly useful in connection with iiling or posting trays@ ,l i i y In filing or postirig'trays it is essential tohave the sheets in easily accessibleposition in the tray when an operator is using thet'ray. lHowevery it is often desirable tol haye"` rapid lefficient locking means to protect the slieetsifrom prying eyes. or" unauthorized people whenever i the operator leaves the traysunattendd for a short time.

It is an object of our invention to provide simple and efficient locking means that may' be easily manipulated to lock or to unlock the compressor plates on a filing orposting tray. Itf is a further object of our invention to provide locking means that does not require any extra key, but may be operated with thesame key required to move the compressorplates in theordinary operation of the tray. Other objects of our invention will become apparent upon readingthe following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsgin which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a tray embodying the invention with the compressor plates in locked position and parts of the side rail of the tray broken away to facilitate the illustration; i l l I l i Figure 2 is a cross ,sectional View through one of the compressor plates" and its locking structure; i Y i i i Figure 3 isla` top elevational'view of' the tray showninFigurel; l n Y `Figure 4 is a detaillperspectiveifviewlof the locking structure for one',` compressor plate;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View of a compressor plate and itsassociated locking structure showing the compressor plate in open position roviding easy access to the sheets or cards positioned in the tray;A i .y i t i i Figure 6 is a` view, similar'to Figure 5, showing the compressor plate moved vertically towards locking position; y y

Figure 7 is a View, similar toFigure 5, showing the compressor platemoved past the vertical position, ready to be locked; l i l Figure 8 is .a view, similar to Figure v5,` showing the compressor plate in'locked position; l

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional View showing a modified form of locking `mechanism in the open' position similar to that shown in Figure 5; l A l Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the line iii- I of Figure 9; and y l Figure 11 is a View, `similarto Figure 9; showing the modified form of'loeking mechanism in locked position: i i l l lThe locking structure is described in `connection with the typeV of postinggtray which corin stitutesl the subject-matter cuffs-aiuti:`application` Serial No.' 626,'316014d NOVmbel 2, 1945, by

e cia-ans. (o1. 12a-i265' e-airitlei with a; Pareri-i Ne 520323810151 *August-,H Since the tray structure Yis fully described infthat application g andjdoes Anot constitute any part o the present invention it williie r edito in general terms only. It will he obvious thatthe. advantages of the locking strutu escriloeii` herein are not i ay inenti'onedbut may be 1 attained withany posi ing trayforoany ,ling tray or similar structurehaving iarnoyable compressor plate.` I.. l l i L t t A n 1n, the driawrigisithe reference numeral 2 indicate's a tray. having aipair o f 4con'rpressorplates i 3. Each compressor plate 1s mounted on a block d havinga transverse"opening` thre'aded to `engage threads 5 on a rod L ,Eachrodl has one end S journalled near` the eenterzof the tray and its' other end journalled in a' bearing V9 at the i endA of the tray.` TheA bearing 9 is provided with plates are moved simultaneously by rotating the.

single rod.

The compressor plates andltheir associated locking `structure are `duplicates of each other, andy therefore, only one .willibe described. Each compressor plate has .an angle shaped bracket i 3 hinged to plate 3, as indicated at lli. Latching means are provided for ,normallyvlholding the compressor plate in vertical` position or. in predeterminedV angolari positions` permitting easy reference to thesheets contained in the 4tray.`

The latchinglmeans vincludes a link l5 pivoted between a pairofrears `l1 it` as .indicated et li- The ears l5 are welded or otherwise.rigidLlyu secured `to the. baseporrion of the aeglemember lf2 The upper endwoi rthelink Iii fitsutelescopically into a tubular sheath i. "The up er endof the sheath i8 pivoted between` ,a pair of ears 2534,A as i in-V dicated "at" The pears .lilfaref` permanently securedyto Atheslplate 3` by'weldingfor in any other suitable manner.; o

The upper" aridi prima link' l5` is provided with a pluralityffof" notches'- 2`l` and 2i on'its edgel spacedV farthest "from the plate" 3.1 4The tubular sheath provided Vwitha notch i22lthat ex#- tends transyer'sely from the edge, farthest .,from plate 3 approximately half` way through the sheathmA handle v23 has a bottom portion 2t provided'with a substantially rectangular opening 25 through which the sheath I8 projects. l'he handle 23 also includes an arcuate hand grasping portion 23 and an upper portion 21 substantially parallel to the plate 3. The arcuate portion 2t is provided with a pair of depending ears 28 which are pivoted to the ears I9 and the upper end of the sheath I8 by the pivot pin 28. 'l'he ears 28 are preferably welded to the arcuate portion 26 of the handle, but they may be integral therewith or may be secured by riveting.

Ihe upper portion 21 is provided with a deep cup shaped portion 29 having its open top adjacent the plate 3. The cup shaped portion may be integral with the handle or may be formed by spinning a separately formed cup member in a suitable aperture. A coiled compression spring 3D, seated in the recess of the cup 29, bears against the plate 3 and urges the upper portion 21 of the handle outwardly, thereby pushing the bottom portion 24 of the handle into the notch 22 with which it registers. When the link I reaches one of the predetermined positions the bottom 24 moves into engagement with one of the notches 2| or 2|'.

The bottom edge of each notch 2| and 2|' is perpendicular to the edge of the link so that it will abut the forward edge of the bottom portion 24 of the handle adjacent the edge of the opening 25 farthest from the plate 3 and prevent further movement of the link, and the plate 3, in an outward direction. The top edge of each notch 2| is slanted so that if the movement of the plate 3 is towards the compressing position the forward edge of the portion 24 adjacent the edge of the opening 25 rides out of the notch 2| and the motion towards compressing position is not stopped until the top notch 2| is reached. Notch 2| has its top edge parallel to its bottom edge so the forward edge of the portion 24 adjacent the opening 25 can not ride out of the top notch. In order to move the plate 3 outwardly when the edge of portion 24 adjacent the opening 25 is engaged with one of the notches 2| it is necessary to press the cup 29 against the action of spring 30 to release the edge from the notch, and then pull the handle 23 outwardly before the pressure against the spring 30 is released.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 of the drawings, the forward edge of the portion 24 of the handle adjacent the edge of the opening 25 farthest from the plate 3 is provided with an upturned locking projection 3|. The projection 3| is preferably integral with the handle, but may be welded or secured to the portion 24 in any suitable manner. The action of the projection 3| may best be understood from a study of Figures 5 to 8 inclusive.

When the plate 3 is opened outwardly in reference position, as shown in Figure 5, the projection 3| engages the slanting top edge of the bottom notch 2|. Movement of the plate 3 towards compressing position causes the projection 3| to ride out of the notch 2| and continue upwardly, relative to the link I5, until it reaches the top notch 2|. If the compression plate is far enough away from the sheets to be compressed, the plate 3 can be forced slightly past the vertical position, with the locking projection 3| engaged in the top notch 2|', as indicated in Figure '1.

When the plate 3` is in the position shown 1n Figure 7, rotation of the rod 1 in the proper direction moves the compressor plate structure towards the sheets and forces the plate 3 into vertical position by moving the angle member I 3 towards the sheets while movement of the plate 3 in the same direction is restrained by the sheets. This movement shortens the distance between pivots I1 and 28 slightly, thereby forcing the bottom portion 24 of the handle against the top Wall of notch 22 with the locking pro- `jection 3| in the upper portion of top notch 2| which has been forced past the upper edge of notch 22.

In this position the projection 3| locks the plate 3 against outward movement because pressure on the cup 29 can not force the projection 3| past the top edge of notch 22. In order to open the plate 3 outwardly from the locked position it is necessary to rotate the rod 1 in opening direction, and this can be done only by the key or crank which may be retained by the operator if he has to leave the tray unattended. If the rod 1 is rotated in the opening direction the plate 3 will again assume the position of Figure 1 and the handle 23 may be manipulated to open the plate 3 to reference position.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 9, 10 and ll differs from that previously described only in that the lip or projection 3| is omitted and the sheath I8' is provided with an enlarged portion or projection 32 on its side opposite the notch 22. The enlarged portion is preferably welded to the sheath I3', but may be secured in any suitable manner. During the operation of the tray the bottom portion 24 of the handle is normally below and out of engagement with the enlarged portion 32 of the sheath I8. When the plate 3 is moved from the position of Figure '1 to that of Figure 8, the shortening of the distance between the pivots I1 and 2 causes the link I5 to move upwardly a short distance into the sheath I8. The bottom of notch 2 I in which the handle potrion 24 is positioned, forces the handle portion 24 upwardly and causes the aperture 25 to engage the enlarged portion 32. The enlarged portion 32 is of such size and shape that a cross section of the sheath I3' through the portion 32 is substantially the same as the cross section horizontally through the aperture 25, as shown in Figure 10. Therefore, when the aperture 25 engages the enlarged portion 32 pressure on the cup 29 can not release the forward edge of the portion 24 adjacent the side of the aperture 25 until the distance between the pivots I1 and 20 is lengthened by rotating the rod 1 so that the aperture 25 is disengaged from the enlarged portion 32.

Although we have described two preferred embodiments of our invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, we do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described, except as limited by the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a posting tray, a compressor plate, a sheath pivoted to the upper portion of said compressor plate, said sheath having a notch in one edge thereof, a handle pivoted to said sheath, a bracket hingedly secured to the lower portion of said compressor plate, a link pivoted to said bracket, said link having a plurality of notches in one edge thereof, said notches being adapted to be successively aligned with the notch in said sheath as said compressor plate is moved pivotally relative to said bracket, said handle cooperating with the notch in said sheath and the notches in said link successively aligned with the notch in said sheath to releasably hold said compressor plate in various positions, including a compressing position wherein the upper edge of said compressor plate slants forwardly of the lower edge which is secured to said bracket, key operated means for moving said bracket inwardly a slight distance when said compressor plate is in compressing position, and locking means actuated by said additional inward movement of said bracket for positively locking said compressor plate in compressing position, said locking means comprising a projection extending laterally from said sheath engageable with said handle to prevent transverse movement of said handle relative to said sheath and being releasable only by reverse movement of said key operated means.

2. In a posting tray, a compressor plate, a bracket secured to the lower portion of said compressor plate, sai-d compressor plate being normally movable pivotally realtive to said bracket, a link pivoted to said bracket, said link being provided with a plurality of notches, a sheath pivoted to said compressor plate and engaging said link to cause pivotal movement of said compressor plate upon pivotal movement of said link, a handle engaging said notches and said sheath to releasably hold said compressor plate in a plurality of predetermined positions as said compressor plate is moved pivotally relative to said bracket, the last position of said compressor plate as said plate is moved inwardly being a compressing position in which the upper edge of said compressor plate slants` forwardly of the lower edge which is pivotally secured to said bracket, key operated means for moving said bracket inwardly a slight distance after said compressor plate is in compressing position, and locking means actuated by said additional inward movement of said bracket for locking said compressor plate against pivoted movement relative to said bracket, said locking means comprising a projection extending laterally from said sheath engageable with said handle to prevent transverse movement of said handle relative to said sheath and being releasable only by reverse movement of said key operated means.

3. In a posting tray, a compressor plate, a sheath pivoted to the upper portion of said compressor plate, a handle pivoted to said sheath, a bracket hingedly secured to the lower portion of said compressor plate, a link pivoted to said bracket, the upper portion of said link fitting in said sheath, a notch in said sheath, a portion of said handle projecting through said notch and engaging the upper portion of said link to hold said compressor plate in either reference or compressing position, said handle being normally operable to release said compressor plate from either of said positions, and key operated means for moving said bracket inwardly a slight distance after said compressor plate is in compressing position, and locking means actuated by said additional inward movement of said bracket for locking said compressor plate against release by the operation of said handle, said locking means comprising a projection extending laterally from said sheath and engageable with said handle to hold said handle against releasing movement.

4. In a posting tray, a compressor plate, a sheath pivoted to the upper portion of said compressor plate, a handle pivoted to said sheath, a bracket hingedly secured to the lower portion of said compressor plate, a link pivoted to said bracket, said link telescopically tting into said sheath, said handle cooperating with said sheath and said link to releasably hold said compressor plate in compressing position, a projection extending laterally irom said sheath, and key operated means for moving said bracket inwardly when said compressor plate is in compressing position, said inward movement oi the bracket causing said projection to engage said handle and thereby lock said handle against releasing movement.

5. In a posting tray, a compressor plate, a sheath pivoted to the upper portion of said compressor plate, a handle pivoted to said sheath, a bracket hingedly secured to the lower portion of said compressor plate, a link pivoted to said bracket, the upper portion of said link telescopically tting into said sheath, said handle having an opening through which said sheath extends, a notch in said sheath, a portion of said handle adjacent said opening projecting into said notch and engaging said link to releasably hold said compressor plate in compressing position, an enlarged portion on said sheath positioned above said handle portion engaging said sheath, and a rod operatively connected to said bracket, movement of said rod urging said bracket inwardly when said compressor plate is in compressing position being eiective to move said handle portion into engagement with said enlarged portion on said sheath, the engagement of said enlarged portion with said handle being effective to prevent releasing movement of said handle until said bracket has been moved outwardly by reverse movement of said rod.

6. In a posting tray, a threaded rod, a compressor plate mounted for longitudinal movement relative to said rod upon rotation of said rod, said plate being pivotally movable between reference and compressing positions, a handle, a sheath and a link, said handle and sheath being connected to the upper portion of said plate and said link being connected to the lower p0rtion of said plate, said handle cooperating with said sheath and said link to releasably hold said plate in compressing position, and a projection extending laterally from said sheath, rotation of said rod in one direction when said plate is in compressing position changing the structural relationship between said handle and sheath to cause said handle to engage said projection and to thereby lock said handle against movement in a direction to release said plate from compressing position.

RALPH R. UHRMACHER. EREMELDO CAIRELLI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,274,117 Webster July 30|, 1918 1,573,935 Hadley Feb. 23, 1926 1,622,530 Miller Mar. 29, 1927 2,520,738 Segal Apr. 291, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 270,572 Italy Jan. 14 1930 

